>>Anyone have an idea of what the incidence of celiac is in Scotland or
>>Ireland is, compared with, say, the Mediterranean?  The web site I was
>>visiting was primarily talking about giardia, not celiac, so no stats were
>>listed.  Just curious.
>>
>>Corbie
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>----------
>
>Very interesting post, actually Don Wiss has some information about Irish
>and celiac disease. Seems that the Irish (and Irish Americans) have one of
>the highest levels of gluten intolerance in the world. Check out his web
>site, there is also an article by Lutz that discusses the Irish and celiac
>disease..

I have read the Lutz article, and if memory serves, generally, celiac
disease rates increase the further north you go from the eastern
Mediterranean because that is the direction in which ancient migrations
proceeded from the fertile crescent where grain was first farmed and eaten.
Ireland I believe was one of the later places to be settled by farming
peoples--thus less time for any genetic adaptations to grain-eating to take
place, and higher rates of celiac disease.

--Ward Nicholson <[log in to unmask]> Wichita, KS